Coupling.



PATENTED MAR. 27, 1906.

H. G. CLAY.

COUPLING.

APPLIOATION FILED OCT. 23, 1905.

U NITED STATES HARRY C. CLAY, OF COLUMBUS, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TO REEVES & COM.

PATENT OFFICE.

PANY, OF COLUMBUS, INDIANA, A CORPORATION OF INDIANA.

COUPLING.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 27, 1906.

Application filed October 23, 1905. Serial No. 284,109-

T 0 all whom, may concern:

Be 1t known that I, HARRY C. CLAY, a citizen of the United States, resldmg at Columbus, 1n

the county of Bartholomew and State of In diana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Couplings, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide a neat and eflicient coupling device especially designed for use in coupling traction-engines to tl1reshing-machines and the like.

Theaccompanying drawings illustrate my invention.

Figure 1 is a plan, Fig. 2 a side elevation, Fig. 3 a section on line 3 3 of Fig. 1, and Fig. 4 a perspective, of a desirable form. of coupling-link.

In the drawings, 10 indicates a body-casting provided at one end with a transverse slot 11 and bolt-holes 12, which intersect the slot 11, by means of'which the main body may be attached either to the draw-bar of an engine or to the tongue of the machine hauled.

The main body 10 is provided with a narrow vertical pocket 13, the bottom 14 of which is extended rearward to form a lip 15, which is flanked at each side by the portions 16 of the sides of the pocket 13, the tops of said portions inclining upward and forward and thence upward and rearward, as at 18, to meet an upper lip 19, which is shorter than the lip 15. The side walls of the pocket 13 beneath the surface 18 are hollowed out, as at 20, to form a receiving-pocket for the rounded end of the coupling-link 21, (shown in Fig. 4,) said coupling-link having a vertical perforation 22 for a purpose which will appear.

Pivoted upon a horizontal pivot pin 23, which extends across the pocket 13 near its forward lower corner, is a vertically-arranged pawl or hook 24, the inner end of which is upwardly and rearwardly inclined, while the free end is turned down at 24 and adapted to rest upon the bottom 14 some distance in front of its rear end. The portion 24 is provided with a forward substantially vertical rounded face 24", which lies in opposition to the rounded hollows 20, and the shape of the portion 24 is such as to enter the perforation 22 of the link 21. 1

Pawl 24 is so arranged within the pocket 13 that it will normally by gravity occupy the position shown in the drawings, and its rear surface 25 is upwardly and rearwardly inclined, so as to form a V-shaped crotch between it and the upper surface 17 of the portions 16, so that when the coupling-link is laid upon the surfaces 17 and forced forward pawl 24 will be swung upward, permitting the insertion of the link until its rounded end engages the hol lows 20 and the free end of the pawl drops into the perforation 22. By this arrangement the link may have a considerable range of swing about the portion 24 as a pivot and will be held against vertical displacement because of the overhanging short lip 19.

The .pivot 23 is arranged lower than the portion of the vertical surface 24" which lies normally above the sufrace 17, so that any pull upon the link tends to hold the pawl 24 down upon the bottom 14, thus preventing all possibility of accidental uncoupling.

Pawl 24 is provided with a perforated ear 26, to which may be attached any suitable device by means of which the pawl may be swung upward to release the link.

I claim as my invention- A coupling comprising a main body having a vertical pocket 13, the bottom of which is rearwardly extended and the sides of which are forwardly and upwardly and then upwardly and forwardly inclined with intermediate link-pockets 20, and hook 24 pivoted at its forward lower end within the vertical pocket 13 at a point below the plane of the link-pockets and the rear end of which is upwardly and rearwardly inclined, all substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal, at Columbus, Indiana, this 16th day of October, A. D. 1905.

HARRY C. CLAY. [L. s.]

Witnesses:

FRED DOELLER, W. R. BAXTER. 

